Child-Resistant Closure

ABSTRACT

A child-resistant closure has an inner member and an outer member encircling the inner member for gripping by a user. The outer member comprises a sidewall bearing a first engagement feature and an upper web underside bearing a second engagement feature. The inner member comprises: an inner sidewall bearing an internal thread for engaging the container body; an outer sidewall spaced-apart from the inner sidewall and bearing a third engagement feature, the third engagement feature engagable to the first engagement feature responsive to an upward movement of the outer member so as to allow the outer member to transmit a removal rotation to the inner member. An upper web joins the inner sidewall and outer sidewall and has an upper surface bearing a fourth engagement feature engagable to the second engagement feature to transmit an installing rotation to the inner member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Benefit is claimed of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/089,688, filed Dec.9, 2014, and entitled “Child-Resistant Closure”, the disclosure of whichis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as if set forth atlength.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to screw-on container closures. More particularly,the invention relates to child-resistant closures.

A wide variety of child-resistant (CR) closures have been made orproposed, including those in U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,746, U.S. Pat. No.5,732,836, U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,576, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,616, U.S. Pat.No. 3,888,375, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,332.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the disclosure involves a child-resistant closure forclosing an externally threaded neck of a container body. The closurecomprises: an inner member having an internal thread for engaging theneck external thread; and an outer member encircling the inner memberfor gripping by a user. The outer member comprises a sidewall bearing afirst engagement feature; and an upper web having an underside bearing asecond engagement feature. The inner member comprises: an inner sidewallbearing the internal thread; an outer sidewall spaced-apart from theinner sidewall and having an outer surface bearing a third engagementfeature, the third engagement feature engagable to the first engagementfeature responsive to an upward movement of the outer member so as toallow the outer member to transmit a removal rotation to the innermember; and an upper web joining the inner sidewall and outer sidewalland having an upper surface bearing a fourth engagement feature, thefourth engagement feature engagable to the second engagement feature totransmit an installing rotation to the inner member.

In one or more embodiments of any of the other embodiments, the outermember upper web has a central aperture exposing the inner member upperweb.

In one or more embodiments of any of the other embodiments, the firstengagement feature comprises one or more gaps in a radially inwardlyprojecting feature of the outer member sidewall.

In one or more embodiments of any of the other embodiments, the innermember is formed as a first single-piece plastic molding; and the outermember is formed as a second single-piece plastic molding.

In one or more embodiments of any of the other embodiments, the outermember sidewall first engagement feature comprises at least one gap in aradially inwardly projecting bead and the inner member outer sidewallthird engagement feature comprises at least one downward projection fromthe inner member outer sidewall.

In one or more embodiments of any of the other embodiments, the outermember upper web second engagement feature comprises a first pluralityof barbs and the inner member upper web fourth engagement featurecomprises a second plurality of barbs.

In one or more embodiments of any of the other embodiments, the firstplurality of barbs and second plurality of barbs are positioned toengage each other during installation and angled so that an installingtorque drives the outer member downward into firmer engagement with theinner member thus requiring the user to provide no downward pressure toinstall.

In one or more embodiments of any of the other embodiments, the firstplurality of barbs and second plurality of barbs have surfaces angled sothat an uninstalling rotation of the outer member causes the surfaces tocam against each other lifting the outer member up and out of drivingengagement with the inner member.

In one or more embodiments of any of the other embodiments, a containercomprises the child-resistant closure and a container body having anexternally threaded neck engaged to the inner member internal thread.

In one or more embodiments of any of the other embodiments, a method forusing the container comprises: upwardly pulling the outer membersidewall; and rotating the outer member sidewall in a direction tounscrew the internal thread from the external thread.

In one or more embodiments of any of the other embodiments, the upwardlypulling causes the third engagement feature to engage the firstengagement feature.

In one or more embodiments of any of the other embodiments, a method formanufacturing the container comprises downwardly installing the outermember over the inner member, the downward installation outwardlyflexing a lower rim portion of the outer member and then relaxing tocapture the inner member.

Another aspect of the disclosure involves a child-resistant closure forclosing an externally threaded neck of a container body. The closurecomprises: an inner member having an internal thread for engaging theneck external thread; and an outer member encircling the inner memberfor gripping by a user. The outer member comprises: a sidewall bearing afirst engagement feature and having a lower end formed by partiallyradially inwardly directed petals; and an upper web having an undersidebearing a second engagement feature. The inner member comprises: asidewall having an outer surface bearing a third engagement feature, thethird engagement feature engagable to the first engagement featureresponsive to an upward movement of the outer member so as to allow theouter member to transmit a removal rotation to the inner member; and anupper surface bearing a fourth engagement feature, the fourth engagementfeature engagable to the second engagement feature to transmit aninstalling rotation to the inner member.

In one or more embodiments of any of the other embodiments, a method formanufacturing the closure comprises downwardly installing the outermember over the inner member, the downward installation outwardlyflexing the sidewall of the outer member and then relaxing to capturethe inner member.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top oblique view of a child-resistant container.

FIG. 2 is a first side view of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a second side view of the container of FIG. 1 viewedorthogonal to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a central vertical sectional view of the container taken alongline 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a downward transverse sectional view of a container takenalong line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of a portion of the container of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a downward transverse sectional view of the container takenalong line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a closure of the container.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the closure.

FIG. 10 is a bottom oblique view of the closure.

FIG. 11 is a central vertical sectional view of the closure taken alongline 11-11 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a top view of an inner member of the closure.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the inner member.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the inner member.

FIG. 15 is a top oblique view of the inner member.

FIG. 16 is a bottom oblique view of the inner member.

FIG. 17 is a central vertical sectional view of the inner member takenalong line 17-17 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 18 is a top view of an outer member of the closure.

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the outer member.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the outer member.

FIG. 21 is a top oblique view of the outer member.

FIG. 22 is a bottom oblique view of the outer member.

FIG. 23 is a central vertical sectional view of the outer member takenalong line 23-23 of FIG. 18.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicatelike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a container 20 comprising a container body 22 and a closure24. The exemplary container body is a molded plastic single-piece member(e.g., roto-molded or blow molded or injection molded). The exemplarybody has a base 30, a sidewall 32 extending upward from the base, ashoulder 34 extending upward from the sidewall, and a neck 36 (FIG. 5)extending upward from the shoulder and extending to a rim 38 to define abody opening or mouth 40. The neck bears an external thread 42 forengaging an internal thread of the closure. The neck defines a centrallongitudinal/vertical axis 500.

The exemplary closure is a two-piece closure comprising an outer pieceor member 50 and an inner piece or member 52. An exemplary outer memberand inner member are molded plastic (e.g., injection molded). Exemplaryplastics are polyolefins such as polypropylenes and polyethylenes. Theclosure may comprise an additional member such as an elastomeric orpaper seal or gasket 48, safety seal, or the like.

As is discussed further below, the outer member 50 and inner member 52have two pairs of engagement features cooperating with each other. Onepair of engagement features allows the outer member in certaincircumstances to transmit rotation about the axis 500 to the innermember in a direction to install the closure (i.e., screw the closureonto the body). The other pair in certain circumstances allows the outermember to transmit an opposite unscrewing/removal rotation to the innermember. This unscrewing condition may require application of sufficientforce/pressure or manipulation to qualify as a child-resistant action.

The exemplary outer member 50 (FIG. 21) comprises a sidewall 54extending upward from a lower end at a rim 56 to an upper end. At theupper end, a web 58 extends across the sidewall. The sidewall has anouter/outboard or outer diameter (OD) surface 60 and an inner/inboard orinner diameter (ID) surface 62. The web has an upper surface 64 and alower surface or underside 66 (FIG. 22). The exemplary web has a centralaperture 68 defined by an inner perimeter 70 of the web with an outerperimeter of the web being at the sidewall upper end.

As is discussed further below, the underside 66 of the outer member 50upper web bears an engagement feature for engaging with a matingengagement feature of the inner member 52 to transmit sufficient torqueto screw the closure on in the installation condition but not, in atleast some circumstances, transmit sufficient unscrewing torque.

The inner member 52 (FIG. 17) comprises an inner sidewall 80 extendingupward from a lower rim 82 to an upper end and having respective ID 84and OD 86 surfaces. The ID surface 84 bears the internal thread 88 forengaging the external thread 42 of the neck. An outer sidewall 90 isspaced radially outboard of the inner sidewall 80 and extends upwardfrom a lower rim 92 to an upper end and has ID 94 and OD 96 surfaces.Radial/axial webs 98 (e.g., partial height) may join the inner and outersidewalls.

At their upper ends, the inner sidewall 80 and outer sidewall 82 arejoined by a web 100 which extends further radially inward and has anunderside 102 and an upper surface 104. In this example, a lateralportion of the upper surface bears engagement features complementary tothe engagement features of the outer member web. An inner or centralportion 110 of the upper web may be exposed through the aperture 68(FIG. 22) in the outer member web and may bear instructional indicia 112(FIG. 12). These may be cooperating complementary indicia 114 on theupper surface 64 of the web 58. In the illustrated example, theseinclude written instructions and alignment indicia. In this example, thecentral portion 110 may protrude into and at least partially through theaperture 68.

The exemplary installation engagement features 120 (FIG. 22), 122 (FIG.15) of respective members 50, 52 are shaped and dimensioned so that noforce or torque other than the turning torque applied to the outermember is required to screw the closure on to the body. For example, thefeatures 120, 122 may be barbs having first surfaces 124, 126 positionedto engage each other during installation and angled so that theinstalling torque drives the outer member downward into firmerengagement with the inner member thus requiring the user to provide nodownward pressure to install. Opposite surfaces 128, 130 may be angledoppositely so that an uninstalling rotation of the outer member causesthe opposite surfaces to cam against each other lifting the outer memberup and out of driving engagement with the inner member. Thus, only avery massive downward force applied in the absence of other actuationdiscussed below would allow the outer member to impart sufficientunscrewing torque to the inner member.

For unscrewing the closure, the inner member and outer member havecooperating features 140, 142 (FIG. 6A). As exemplary features, theinner member 52 outer sidewall 90 has one or more downward projections140 (e.g., a pair of diametrically opposite downward projections 140(FIG. 14)) protruding below a remaining lower rim 92 of the inner memberouter sidewall. To cooperate with the projections 140, as exemplaryfeatures 142 the outer member 50 sidewall 54 (FIG. 10) has, near itslower rim, a radially inwardly projecting bead 150 having one or moregaps 142 (e.g., a pair of diametrically opposite gaps 142). Theaforementioned alignment indicia may indicate when these features 140and 142 are circumferentially aligned to engage each other.

Normally, the lower ends 152 (FIG. 11) of the two projections 140 areslightly above the bead 150 so that the outer member can rotate freelyin the unscrewing direction relative to the inner member. If the gapsare aligned with the projections, the outer member may be pulledslightly upward with the projections becoming captured in the gaps.Further upward movement is stopped by engagement of the bead with therim 92 of the inner member outer sidewall.

With the projections 140 captured in the gaps 142, the inner member maybe unscrewed from the bottle by turning the outer member so thatrotation of the outer member is transmitted to the inner member via thegaps' capture of the projections.

The double sidewall of the inner member facilitates one or moreadvantages relative to a hypothetical single wall variant. First, itgives a softer, more ergonomic feel than a hard stop feel associatedwith a rigid single sidewall. Nevertheless, single sidewall variants arenot precluded.

One or more embodiments of the present invention have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, desirability of reusing existing molding and/or cappingequipment may influence particular implementations. Accordingly, otherembodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A child-resistant closure for closing anexternally threaded neck of a container body, the cap comprising: aninner member having an internal thread for engaging the neck externalthread; and an outer member encircling the inner member for gripping bya user, wherein: the outer member comprises: a sidewall bearing a firstengagement feature; and an upper web having an underside bearing asecond engagement feature; and the inner member comprises: an innersidewall bearing the internal thread; an outer sidewall spaced-apartfrom the inner sidewall and bearing a third engagement feature, thethird engagement feature engagable to the first engagement featureresponsive to an upward movement of the outer member so as to allow theouter member to transmit a removal rotation to the inner member; and anupper web joining the inner sidewall and outer sidewall and having anupper surface bearing a fourth engagement feature, the fourth engagementfeature engagable to the second engagement feature to transmit aninstalling rotation to the inner member.
 2. The child-resistant closureof claim 1 wherein: the outer member upper web has a central apertureexposing the inner member upper web.
 3. The child-resistant closure ofclaim 1 wherein: the first engagement feature comprises one or more gapsin a radially inwardly projecting feature of the outer member sidewall.4. The child-resistant closure of claim 1 wherein: the inner member isformed as a first single-piece plastic molding; and the outer member isformed as a second single-piece plastic molding.
 5. The child-resistantclosure of claim 1 wherein: the outer member sidewall first engagementfeature comprises at least one gap in a radially inwardly projectingbead; and the inner member outer sidewall third engagement featurecomprises at least one downward projection from the inner member outersidewall.
 6. The child-resistant closure of claim 5 wherein: the outermember upper web second engagement feature comprises a first pluralityof barbs; and the inner member upper web fourth engagement featurecomprises a second plurality of barbs.
 7. The child-resistant closure ofclaim 6 wherein: the first plurality of barbs and second plurality ofbarbs are positioned to engage each other during installation and angledso that an installing torque drives the outer member downward intofirmer engagement with the inner member thus requiring the user toprovide no downward pressure to install.
 8. The child-resistant closureof claim 7 wherein: the first plurality of barbs and second plurality ofbarbs have surfaces angled so that an uninstalling rotation of the outermember causes the surfaces to cam against each other lifting the outermember up and out of driving engagement with the inner member.
 9. Acontainer comprising: the child-resistant closure of claim 1; and acontainer body having an externally threaded neck engaged to the innermember internal thread.
 10. A method for using the container of claim 9,the method comprising: upwardly pulling the outer member sidewall; androtating the outer member sidewall in a direction to unscrew theinternal thread from the external thread.
 11. The method of claim 10wherein: the upwardly pulling causes the third engagement feature toengage the first engagement feature.
 12. A method for manufacturing thecontainer of claim 9, the method comprising: downwardly installing theouter member over the inner member, the downward installation outwardlyflexing a lower rim portion of the outer member and then relaxing tocapture the inner member.
 13. A child-resistant closure for closing anexternally threaded neck of a container body, the cap comprising: aninner member having an internal thread for engaging the neck externalthread; and an outer member encircling the inner member for gripping bya user, wherein: the outer member comprises: a sidewall bearing a firstengagement feature; and an upper web having an underside bearing asecond engagement feature; and the inner member comprises: a sidewallhaving an outer surface bearing a third engagement feature, the thirdengagement feature engagable to the first engagement feature responsiveto upward movement of the outer member so as to allow the outer memberto transmit a removal rotation to the inner member; and an upper surfacebearing a fourth engagement feature, the fourth engagement featureengagable to the second engagement feature to transmit an installingrotation to the inner member.
 14. A method for manufacturing the closureof claim 13, the method comprising: downwardly installing the outermember over the inner member, the downward installation outwardlyflexing the sidewall of the outer member and then relaxing to capturethe inner member.